Nashville’s burger conversation has evolved significantly from the “best bar burger” framing of a decade ago. The city now has genuine contenders that get measured against national benchmarks, not just the local dive bar circuit.
Dino’s
411 Gallatin Ave, East Nashville. Open until 3am nightly.
Bon Appetit named Dino’s cheeseburger one of the three best in the United States, and no one who has eaten it has found the ranking difficult to accept. The patty is cooked on a grill that has absorbed decades of seasoning. The result is charred on the outside, juicy through the middle, and draped with American cheese. The fries are peppery, crisp, and clearly not an afterthought. Order it “animal style” with mustard, pickles, sauce, and onions. Add a fried egg. Go at 1:30am when the experience makes more complete sense. Anthony Bourdain featured the burger when he was still writing and eating. That endorsement has proved accurate over time.
The setting is a dive bar decorated in Dolly Parton imagery and Christmas lights. The prices are not attempting to reflect the food’s quality. That disconnect is the point.
Secret Bodega
Inside Pearl Diver, East Nashville.
Won Best Overall Burger at Nashville’s Burger Week 2024. The burger is a double-patty smash burger with Korean BBQ-spiced beef, a crispy shallot cheese blanket, citrus, and chili. This is not a classic approach, and it is not trying to be. The Korean BBQ spice blend with the shallot crust produces a combination that reads differently from any other burger in the city.
The Pharmacy
East Nashville.
The standard against which most Nashville burgers have been measured for years. A craft burger institution with specialty fries and a soda program that makes the old-school soda fountain format feel current. The burger is clean: well-made, properly seasoned, on a good bun. The beer garden patio is operational weather permitting. Not the most exciting burger in Nashville but possibly the most consistent one.
Joyland
901 Woodland St, East Nashville. Open late on weekends.
Sean Brock’s burger concept. The crustburger is a thin-patty smashburger cooked hard on a flat-top for maximum crust. Fried chicken on a stick is the secondary reason to visit. The room is loud and energetic. The late kitchen hours on Friday and Saturday make this viable as a post-show destination.
Redheaded Stranger
The green chili cheeseburger is the specific reason to visit. Nashville burgers trend toward the classic American style; the green chili variation at Redheaded Stranger is a genuine outlier in the city’s burger landscape.
Hugh Baby’s
Multiple locations. Pat Martin of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint created this smash burger and barbecue hybrid concept. The burgers are described as “perfect size,” and the milkshakes operate at the same quality level as the food.
The Bottom Line
The best burger in Nashville by objective measure is the Dino’s cheeseburger, based on national recognition and sustained local consensus. The most interesting burger is the Secret Bodega winner from Burger Week 2024. The most reliably consistent is The Pharmacy. Where you should eat depends on whether you are optimizing for a great meal, an interesting meal, or a dependable meal.
Sources
- Infatuation, “Dino’s Bar & Grill,” theinfatuation.com
- Atlas Obscura, “Dino’s Nashville,” atlasobscura.com
- Nashville Scene Burger Week 2024 results
- Roadfood, “Dino’s Bar,” roadfood.com
- Tripadvisor, Dino’s reviews, tripadvisor.com
- Nashville Restaurant Atlas, nashvilleatlas.com